Orthopaedic Services and Procedures

OPERATIVE PROCEDURES

• Spinal Fusion

A physician may recommend a lumbar fusion in circumstances where the predominant source of back pain is thought to be a severely degenerated disc between two vertebral bones or to a "slippage" of the spine bones (which is referred to as "spondylolisthesis"). Slippage of the bones results in misalignment of the spine and possible entrapment of the spinal nerves.

Other circumstances exist in which a fusion may best treat the source of back and leg pain. A lumbar fusion may be recommended for diagnoses such as a recurrent disc herniation, scoliosis or curvature of the spine, or for a traumatic injury of the spine such as a fracture. All of these different conditions can cause back and leg pain.